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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
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Congress Approves GMO Labeling Bill
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 Congress finally passed a bill to require most food packages to carry a text label, a symbol or an electronic code readable by smartphone that indicates whether the food contains genetically modified ingredients, or GMOs.
The Senate passed the bill earlier and the House easily passed the Senate compromise by a
306-117 vote. The bill now moves to the White House, where the President is expected to sign it into law this week.
MWFPA supported this bill and you can read its statement upon passage here.
Once signed, the law will expressly preempt any existing or future state legislation in this area (unless it conforms to federal standards), including Vermont's genetically engineered labeling law that just went into effect July 1. In so doing, the law accomplishes one of the key objectives of the food industry - it prevents the potential for a nationwide patchwork of inconsistent state food labeling laws. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will have two years to write the rules pertaining to this enactment.
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OSHA Pushes Back Effective Date Of Anti-Retaliation Rule
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has pushed back the effective date of the anti-retaliation provisions of a rule dealing with recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses from August 10, 2016 to November 1, 2016.
OSHA published its final rule revising its regulations this past May. One of the most immediate impacts of the final rule is the new retaliation provision that can be enforced by OSHA, even if no complaint has been filed.
This provision was scheduled to become effective on August 10, 2016. Now, in a press release issued on July 13, 2016, OSHA has moved back the rule's effective date so that it can conduct "additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers." Read more from MWFPA Associate Member Michael Best & Friedrich
here.
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Congressional Research Reports On Nanotech
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YOUR BANNER HERE
By becoming an underwriter of the MWFPA News Bulletin, your banner will be viewed by a very targeted group of food processors, in addition to persons, firms and corporations that provide technology, logistics, ingredients and packaging to the food processing industry.
Contact [email protected], or call (608) 255-9946, ext. 11.
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IL Passes Stopgap Budget Measure
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 The IL Legislature passed and the Governor signed a temporary stopgap measure that would provide funding for many state services, projects, programs, and agencies.
The $75 billion stopgap budget also included funding for IDOT's FY17 construction season.
The bill, approved by the House by a vote of 105-4-1 and the Senate by a vote of 54-0, was the result of negotiations between the Governor and legislative leaders over
several days preceding the vote.
Gov. Rauner told reporters, "Let's be clear, this is just a small step in the . . . right direction . . . This is not a balanced budget. This is not a solution to our long-term challenges," Rauner said. "This is a bridge to reform . . . a bipartisan bridge to reform. And the reason it was able to come together is both sides expressed willingness to negotiate further around reforms and truly balanced budgets."
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Leaders Close To A Deal On MN Special Session
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 Since the MN legislative session ended in May, the leaders have periodically met to discuss whether the Legislature should start up again to complete unfinished work.
Now it appears they are close to a deal on a special session that could resurrect a $1 billion public construction package and a $260 million tax relief bill.
Gov. Dayton apparently has dropped his demand to revisit items cut or left out of a supplemental state budget and Republicans have supposedly backed away from proposals to create private school tax credits and to limit the power of local governments to pass their own wage and benefit ordinances. The GOP has also expressed a willingness to make room for some construction projects Dayton wanted in a bonding bill.
The tax-cut plan approved during the regular session fell to a Dayton veto because he said a wording error could have added dramatically to the cost. With a few wording and date changes, the leaders said that was largely ready to go.Still to be resolved is the size of a borrowing package for public buildings and transportation projects.
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Helpful News From Our Associates - The Importance of Allergen Cleaning
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 Twenty-five years ago, food allergens weren't an issue. Today, every food processor needs to be conscious of allergens.
Allergens are highlighted throughout the FDA's recently-issued Preventive Controls Regulations. Learn how the food industry
might develop, document, implement, and maintain an Allergen Cleaning Program to prevent cross-contamination and cross contact to products in this short and informative article from Gloves by Web, an MWFPA Associate Member.
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MWFPA Convention First Round Booth Lottery Underway!
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Registration is now open for MWFPA members to reserve a booth at the 112th Annual MWFPA Convention and Trade Show, being held at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
The Convention will take place
November 29 - December 1, 2016. Don't miss the chance to put your company in front of food processing professionals from across the country and around the world.
The MWFPA Convention and Trade Show is our premier event bringing together leaders in the food processing industry to discuss trends, view new technologies, share expertise, and network with professionals in different companies and disciplines.
Download a copy of the Exhibitor Prospectus now by clicking the image above. Additional information about the convention will be posted to our convention
website as it becomes available. Registration forms can be submitted via email, fax or mail. No online registration is available at this time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Brian Deschane at: [email protected] or call 608-255-9946.
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MWFPA Hosts Management Training Program With Cheesemakers, UW School of Business
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 In partnership with the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and the Wisconsin School of Business Certificate Program, the Midwest Food Processors Association is again promoting a custom certificate program designed to build leadership, management, and business acumen in dairy and food industry professionals.
High Performance Leadership and Management Skills for Food and Cheese Professionals provides the skills to lead, motivate, and manage employees to create a stronger, more productive organization. Participants will spend a total of eight days (four, two-day modules) immersed in thought-provoking and pragmatic training, with action learning components, group discussion, team exercises, and case studies built into each module. Module dates are September 29-30, 2016, November 14-15, 2016, January 23-24, 2017 and March 6-7, 2017.
The program is offered to all MWFPA members. Cost to attend the program is $6,900 per participant and includes instruction, educational materials, meals, parking, and overnight accommodations for all four two-day sessions. Complete information on the program can be found at
online. Don't wait - register today for this premiere event.
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MWFPA Partners On Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit, Organic & Non-GMO Forum
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 MWFPA is a proud partner in this years co-located Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit and Organic and Non-GMO Forum. These annual events are taking place November 14-15, 2016 at the Hyatt regency in Minneapolis, MN.
The 11th annual Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit is a forum for all participants across the oilseed, grain and feed value chain - from buyers, traders and merchandisers to processors and providers of transportation/logistics services. Discussions will be laser-focused on what new developments have arisen, such as emerging market opportunities for exports to Cuba, or prospects from increased competition on exports from Brazil and Argentina.
Similarly, conversations that are fundamental to engagement in the sector, such as outlook projections, strategies for risk management, and insight on the near-term impacts of weather on agriculture, will be more closely examined.
The 2nd annual Organic & Non-GMO Forum, which was expanded this year after an incredibly successful inaugural year, will focus on the development of supply chains and other business opportunities in the sector. Leading experts will provide both overviews and deep-dives into the most relevant issues facing the sector, including S&D forecasting and the impact of evolving policies.
For more information, see the summit website.
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MWFPA Events You Won't Want To Miss
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October 6, 2016: MWFPA Sporting Clays Challenge. Milford Hills, Johnson Creek, WI.
November 29- December 1, 2016:
MWFPA 112th Annual Convention and 89th Processing Crops Conference. Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
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Other Educational Opportunities
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August 3, 2016:
2016 Midwest Buyers Mission. Madison, WI.
Sign up for the upcoming Midwest Buyers Mission to position yourself and your products in front of pre-qualified international buyers seeking the latest food trends and products from the United States. Register early as meeting slots are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. It's the perfect low-cost opportunity to meet buyers from established and emerging markets in one place!
August 22-24, 2016: Preventive Controls for Human Food Qualified Individual Training. Minnesota Food Safety and Defense Task Force. Pomeroy Center, Room 215, University of Minnesota,
1964 Fitch Ave, Saint Paul, MN. Created by the Food Safety and Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this course meets the Preventive Controls for Human Food Qualified Individual training requirements. Certificates will be issued to each participant documenting completion of this course. For more information, click here .
September 26-30, 2016:
Private Label, Food Service and Retail Products Trade Mission.
Monterrey and Mexico City, Mexico. Expand your export sales in Mexico by joining Food Export-Midwest and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture on the Focused Trade Mission to Mexico, for Private Label, Food Service and Retail food product companies. Cost: $400 by the Early Registration Deadline - May 23, 2016. For more information, contact Ashwini Rao/ 608-224-5119/ [email protected]. Register here.
September 29-30, 2016:
High Performance Leadership & Management Skills for Dairy and Food Professionals. Fluno Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 601 University Ave, Madison, WI. For more information, see article above, or go to the program
website.
October 12-13, 2016:
Preventive Maintenance Optimization.
DoubleTree by Hilton, 525 West Johnson Street, Madison, WI.
Stop blindly following your manufacturers' recommendations for preventive maintenance optimization programs. Learn how to transform your existing program into an effective and efficient system, and establish a culture of continuous improvement at this University of Wisconsin School of Engineering course. Click
here.
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